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| Bola de Ouro | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bola de Ouro |
| Country | Brazil |
| Presenter | Placar |
| First awarded | 1973 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Website | Placar |
Bola de Ouro is a Brazilian association football award presented annually by the sports magazine Placar. Established to honor the best players in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A season, the award has been linked to Brazilian clubs, national team selection, and player transfers involving Flamengo, Palmeiras, Corinthians, Grêmio, and Atlético Mineiro. The prize has influenced narratives around stars such as Pelé, Zico, Romário, Ronaldo, Kaká, and Neymar and interacts with other honors like the Ballon d'Or, The Best FIFA Men's Player, and South American Footballer of the Year.
Placar inaugurated the award during an era marked by players from Vasco da Gama, Fluminense, Santos, Sport Recife, Cruzeiro, and Coritiba dominating domestic competitions. Early recipients were covered alongside profiles of managers such as Mário Zagallo, Telê Santana, Luiz Felipe Scolari, and Émerson Leão; club administrators including João Havelange and Constantino de Oliveira Neto; and tournament reports on the Taça Brasil, Brazilian Championship seasons, and the Copa Libertadores. Over decades the award paralleled developments in Brazilian football governance involving CBF, broadcasting agreements with Rede Globo, player representation by agents connected to Gestifute, and international transfers involving Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, and Inter Milan.
Voting historically combined Placar journalists, correspondents covering clubs such as Athletico Paranaense, Internacional, Chapecoense, and statistical panels tracking performances in tournaments like the Copa do Brasil and Recopa Sudamericana. Criteria reference season-long contributions, positions including goalkeeper roles exemplified by Cláudio Taffarel, defensive work similar to Aldair, midfield influence like Dunga and Gilberto Silva, and attacking output comparable to Careca and Gabriel Batistuta. The methodology evolved with metrics from analytics platforms used by Opta Sports, match reports from ESPN Brasil, and scouting notes tied to youth systems at Atlético Paranaense and Santos FC, with proxy comparisons to awards administered by France Football and IFFHS.
Winners include players whose careers intersected with Brazil national team tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and Copa América, and with clubs like Santos FC, Flamengo, Palmeiras, São Paulo, and Corinthians. Record holders and multiple-time winners appear in narratives alongside icons like Rivellino, Sócrates, Romário, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká, and contemporary stars such as Neymar and Philippe Coutinho. Statistics concerning seasonal tallies connect to competitions including the Campeonato Paulista, Campeonato Carioca, Copa Libertadores, and continental performances in CONMEBOL tournaments. Club records reference histories of Santos golden eras with Pelé, Roberto Rivelino, and later talents like Diego and Ganso.
The award has influenced transfer markets involving Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Juventus, Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich. Debates appeared over voting transparency tied to media outlets such as Folha de S.Paulo, O Globo, and broadcasters SBT and TV Bandeirantes; conflicts of interest involving agencies like IMG and Wasserman; and disputes over eligibility parallel to controversies in Ballon d'Or voting and FIFA Ballon d'Or debates. Controversial selections prompted commentary from figures including Galvão Bueno, Neto, Casagrande, and former players who became pundits such as Romário and Rivaldo.
Comparisons span Ballon d'Or, The Best FIFA Men's Player, UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, IFFHS recognitions, regional honors like South American Footballer of the Year and country-specific prizes such as Portugal's Portuguese Golden Ball and Argentina's Olimpia de Oro. The award is often contrasted with league-specific prizes like those in Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and MLS MVP awards, as well as with continental accolades given by CONMEBOL and media organizations such as France Football and World Soccer.
Presentation ceremonies have been held in venues associated with media partners and sponsors including Espaço das Américas, Hotel Unique, and television studios linked to Rede Globo and Band. Trophy artisans and designers sometimes collaborate with firms historically contracted by clubs like Santos, Flamengo, and Palmeiras; craftsmanship references echo silverwork traditions seen in trophies such as the Copa Libertadores and World Cup Trophy. Announcements traditionally coincide with year-end summaries in Placar issues and televised segments on sports programs featuring commentators like Galvão Bueno, André Rizek, and former players such as Denílson.
Category:Brazilian football trophies and awards